As in the middle grade series debut Island of Thieves, scrappy twelve-year-old Tom Trelawney and his swashbuckling Uncle Harvey are a dynamite combination—in the dangerous, explosive sort of way. This time around, they impulsively fly from Ireland to India in hot pursuit of a small bejeweled tiger that yet another Trelawney, a British soldier, allegedly plundered in 1799. They’re pretty sure they can get a couple million dollars for it too, if they can make it past a gun-happy Aussie and a pit of man-eating tigers.

An “action-packed, danger-filled, Indiana Jones-like tale”—first in the Tom Trelawney series from the author of the Dragonsitter books (School Library Journal). “Only boring people get bored . . . Interesting people can always find something to be interested in.” That’s what Tom Trelawney’s father says, anyway. Tom shouldn’t have been interested in playing with matches but he was . . . bored. Now the shed is in ashes and strange Uncle Harvey is the only one willing to have him stay while his parents vacation Tom soon discovers Harvey is going to South America on a treasure hunt and though nephews aren’t invited, he manages to tag along. Before it’s over he’ll drive a car, fire a gun and run for his life. Tom realizes that life may be about following the rules, but survival may be about breaking them. “With its movie-poster cover and fast-paced storyline, Island of Thieves will entertain kids of all ages.”—Wired “Irresistibly funny and action-packed, this well-paced, smartly-written crime caper is just the thing for bored boys. Uncle Harvey is a wonderful comic creation; more, please!”—The London Times “An enjoyable escapade, delivered with wit, wisdom and just a bit of history thrown in for good measure.”—Kirkus Reviews “Nonstop action . . . This is a fine choice to add to a ‘Guys Read’ list.”—VOYA “A thrilling adventure.”—The Guardian

In The Present Work, An Attempt Has Been Made To Give An Accurate Picture Of Tipu Sultan By Disengaging His Personality From Masses Of Fictions And Distortions Which Have Gathered Round Him. As Practically The Whole Of Tipu'S Life Was Taken Up With Fighting, The Author Has Devoted Considerable Space To Campaigns And Battles. However, He Has Not Ignored Other Aspects Of His Career. He Has Paid Sufficient Attention To The Causes And Results Of Wars, While TipuS Relation With The English, The French, The Nizam, The Marathas And The Ottoman Sultan Have Been Fully Discussed. The Last Three Chapters Of The Book Have Been Devoted To A Description Of The SultanS Government And Army, His Reforms And Religious Policy, His Efforts At Industrialisation And State Socialism, His Character, His Failures And Achievements. This Pioneering Study Will Enable The Reader To Appraise The Career And Character Of This Extraordinary Man. Its Scholarly Value Is Enhanced By Professor HasanS Extensive Use Of English, French, Persian, And Urdu Sources.

A collection of folktales from around thewrld.

Sultans, Spices, and Tsunamis: The Incredible Story of the World's Largest Archipelago Indonesia is by far the largest nation in Southeast Asia and has the fourth largest population in the world after the United States. Indonesian history and culture are especially relevant today as the Island nation is an emerging power in the region with a dynamic new leader. It is a land of incredible diversity and unending paradoxes that has a long and rich history stretching back a thousand years and more. Indonesia is the fabled "Spice Islands" of every school child's dreams--one of the most colorful and fascinating countries in history. These are the islands that Europeans set out on countless voyages of discovery to find and later fought bitterly over in the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries. This was the land that Christopher Columbus sought, and Magellan actually reached and explored. One tiny Indonesian island was even exchanged for the island of Manhattan in 1667! This fascinating history book tells the story of Indonesia as a narrative of kings, traders, missionaries, soldiers and revolutionaries, featuring stormy sea crossings, fiery volcanoes, and the occasional tiger. It recounts the colorful visits of foreign travelers who have passed through these shores for many centuries--from Chinese Buddhist pilgrims and Dutch adventurers to English sea captains and American movie stars. For readers who want an entertaining introduction to Asia's most fascinating country, this is delightful reading.

In 1811, an army of 10,000 British redcoats splashed ashore through the muddy shallows off Batavia (now Jakarta) to conquer the Dutch colony of Java. They would remain there for five turbulent years. Drawing on both British and Javanese archival sources, this narrative history-cum-biography explores the bloody battles and furious controversies that marked British rule in Java, and reveals the future founder of Singapore, Thomas Stamford Raffles in a shocking new light.